Receptacle and plug



April 2,'1935. .1 vcz. CLINToN A w 1,996,459

RECEPTACLE AND PLUG Filed Oct. 3l, 1951 bination receptacle and plug,

Patented Apr. 2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,996,459 RECEPTACLE AND PLUG` =`lames C. Clinton, Chillicothe, YOhio Application October 31, 1931, Serial No.` 572,238

1 Claim.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a receptacle and plug, the parts ofwhich may be utilized to form an independent receptacle and an independentl plug 4or a comand one of the objects of the invention is to provide a compact simply constructed'device which will be inexpensive in the cost of manufacture although strong and durable. y

Another object of the invention is to provide a separable plug and receptacle which may be electrically connected through the use of a single stem and insertable in a single opening, said.

opening having the necessary contact members therein.

Another object of the invention is t0 provide a coacting receptacle and plug having straight line contacts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plug having a stem including two contacts spaced longitudinally and insulated from each other for insertion in a receptacle having similarly spaced contacts within an opening in said receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a double contact plug,\each end of which is a duplicate of the other end.

A further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle using the principles of my invention above outlined for the reception of one or more plugs.

A still further object of the invention is to produce a unitary structure 4including a combination of the receptacle and plug.

With these and other ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction n detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application in which:-

Fig. 1 is an outer end view of the contact plug embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is -a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged inner end view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, with the contact pin in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a face view of the bridge member which fastens the several plug contacts and component parts to the body of the plug.

Fig. 6` is a side elevation of a modified form of plug showing a way in which the invention may be utilized as' a double contact plug.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof with the connecting rod in elevation. 5

Fig. 8 is an end view of the same.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied, 30 represents a contact plug including an outer contact 3l preferablyl having an annular y groove 32 intermediate its ends for engagement l0 with a contact member of a receptacle to be later described, and the outer end of said contact member is of'spherical formation Awhereby it may be readily forced over or past a coacting contact member. The contact member 3| is l5 carried by a rod 33 formed as an integral part thereof or secured thereto in any suitable manner.

If the parts are made separately, they may be secured togetherV by threads as shown in Fig. '7.

` The inner end of the rod 33 is threaded as at 20 34 for connection with a bridge 35 including a pair of oppositely projecting arms 36 and 31 and a third arm 38 projecting at an angle to the other two arms, preferably obliquely to the longitudinal center of said other arms. 25

Assembled on the rod 33 is a contact sleeve 39 which is in contact with a clip 40 carrying a binding screw 4I.

On the rod 33 is also assembled an insulating cylinder 42 which insulates the contact sleeve '30 39 from said rod 33 and said cylinder 42 has an enlargement which corresponds in diameter to the contact 3l and the contact sleeve 39 and positions the latter in spaced relation tol the contact 3l. An insulated washer 43 separates 35 and insulates the clip 40 from the bridge 35.

The parts thus far described when assembled l become a unitary structure and may be secured by means of the bridge 35 and suitable fastening elements 44, such as screws, to any other object 4.0 or article such as, for instance, a body 45 whichv should be of insulating material although it is possible to use electrical conductive material and insulate the metallic parts from each other.

The arm 38 of the bridge carries a binding 45 screw 46 and to the binding screws .4I and 46 the wires may be fastened as is usual inithe electrical art and they may then be threaded through. the opening 41 in the body 45 for connection to any suitable electrical translating device.

The body 45 is preferably recessed from the inner end so as to produce projections 48 on which the parts of the bridge 35 and the clip rest and so that said bridge, clip and associated parts will be inside of the inner end of the body and also 55 so that there will be a space 4l beneath the bridge for the passage of the wires fro-.n the hole 41 to the binding screws 4|`and 4i.

In Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive, I have illustrated a double contact plug embodying my invention wherein the rod 33a carries contacts 5I and 5I at both ends preferably being threaded thereon, and surrounding the rod between the outer contacts 5 0 and 5I is an inner or sleeve contact 52 provided with a collar 53 intermediate its ends so as to define two contact surfaces 54 and 55l The collar 53 acts as a stop or shoulder to limit the insertion of either end of the plug in a receptacle so that the contacts at either end will properly cooperate with the contacts of a receptacle.

'I'he contact member 52 is insulated from the rod 33a and from the contacts 58 and 5I by insulating cylinders 56 having portions which it inside of the sleeve contact 52 and having enlargements at the outer ends occupying the spaces between the sleeve contact and the outer contacts with the circumferences ofsaid enlarged portions being the same as the circumferences of the several contacts so as to provide an unbroken surface for all practical purposes.

The construction of a contact plug and receptacle as herein illustrated and described provides for the insertion of a single member to complete both sides of an electrical circuit, and therefore, greatly facilitates the connection of the plug to the receptacle, since it is much easier to nd a single opening than it is to insert two knife blades in two separate openings, especially in dimly lighted places.

Another advantage of the construction set forth herein is that even though the plug is slightly bent it can be inserted in the receptacle, whereas with the usual knife blade plug if one or body further being both of the knife\blades is bent, it is impossible to connect the plug to the receptacle.

0f course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction as herein shown\,as these may be varied within the limits of the a pended claim without departing from the spirit K of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful isz- In an electrical contact plug, 'the combination oi.' a body recessed in one face and having four projections therein, one of which is in a dierent plane relative to the other three and said other three projections being in the .same plane, said provided with a hole leading from the other face into saidfrecess, a bridge in-` cluding a pair of integral arms in endwise alignment and a third arm projecting from one side of the other two arms at an oblique angle to the longitudinal center of said other two arms, said bridge being mounted upon and 'secured to the three projections of the body which are in the same plane, an insulating washer mounted upon the bridge at the juncture of the arms, a clip superimposed upon said insulating washer with an end mounted upon and secured to the other projection of the body, a tubular contact' having one end engaging said clip, a cylinder of insulating material within said tubular contact and having an enlargement located at the outer end of said tubular contact, an outer contact member engaging the enlargement of the insulating cylinder and a rod carried by said outer contact pass- Y ing through the cylinder of insulating material and having its inner end in threaded engagement with the bridge.

JAMES C. CLINTON. 

